OVIVO
- May 11, 2017
- IzHard
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"OVIVO is a single-player kids' platformer game with masterful mechanics and compelling black-and-white graphics, where the player controls OVO, a character that can switch between black and white, to navigate through a metaphoric world filled with illusions and hidden messages. The game's outstanding music and symbolic elements add depth to the story of simplicity and balance, with an interpretation left up to the player."
iPad
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Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
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Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
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Tablet
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Reviews
- OVIVO features stunning black-and-white artwork that creates a mesmerizing visual experience.
- The gameplay mechanics are unique and engaging, allowing players to switch between black and white to navigate levels, which adds a refreshing twist to platforming.
- The game has a relaxing atmosphere, complemented by a soothing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, leading to moments of boredom for some players.
- There are issues with controls and physics that can feel unpolished, making the platforming experience frustrating at times.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it doesn't offer enough challenge or replay value.
- gameplay166 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Ovivo" is characterized by its unique black-and-white color-switching mechanic, which influences movement and gravity, creating a relaxing yet engaging platforming experience. While many players appreciate the beautiful art and soothing soundtrack, some find the mechanics repetitive and the overall challenge lacking, with a few noting that the game can become too easy or frustrating due to certain design choices. Overall, the game offers a blend of simple yet innovative mechanics, with new elements introduced throughout, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more challenging experience.
“The gameplay flows but also has challenges.”
“The simple mechanics and great physics make the gameplay satisfying and fluid.”
“It's about exploring beautiful hand-drawn artwork first-and-foremost, using a fun and unique movement mechanic.”
“The 'unusual mechanic' wasn't enough; I honestly found it boring and pointless.”
“My biggest complaint is that the 'unusual mechanic' was too simple; there were no real adaptations to the formula throughout the game.”
“The twists on the core gameplay the game provides don't do enough to keep things feeling fresh, and this is exacerbated if you have to revisit levels to find previously uncollected baubles.”
- music112 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the stunning visuals and enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack isn't groundbreaking, it is described as soothing and fitting, with each level featuring unique tracks that contribute to the game's immersive feel. Overall, the combination of beautiful art and calming music creates a meditative and engaging environment for players.
“The music accompanying the levels is a great match for the game and I think the devs did a great job on that front.”
“It's as beautiful as it is simple, the whole game is more of a living art piece than anything else, from the sublime minimalist drawings that make up the stages to the serene soundtrack by brokenkites, the whole it comprises is amazing.”
“Absolutely amazing soundtrack.”
“The music isn't anything to write home about, but it is lovely lofi style music that I don't mind listening to in the background as I play.”
“The visual aesthetic is pleasing, the music is adequate but pretty forgettable.”
“The soundtrack isn't mind-blowing but is relaxing and fits the game pretty well.”
- graphics98 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning black-and-white aesthetic, which combines minimalism with intricate level design and beautiful hand-drawn artwork. Reviewers highlight the effective use of negative space and the seamless integration of visuals with the soundtrack, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and contributing to the game's unique charm.
“The artwork is also beautiful.”
“Visuals are stunning and what is more important - they have sense, not just beautiful black and white pictures but a pure art.”
“Ovivo is a mesmerizing platformer which is already eye-catching due to its geometric aesthetics.”
“The controls are fine but the level design is more concerned with aesthetics than gameplay.”
“While there are problems with the visuals throughout the actual gameplay, it is not a deal-breaker for this game.”
“Imagine you took vvvvvv, replaced the retro graphics with a more modern monochrome palette, removed the story, and injected it with LSD.”
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is conveyed through achievements and collectible symbols, creating a narrative that feels more like a series of beautiful, cryptic events rather than a cohesive plot. While the level design is praised for its artistic quality, the lack of words can lead to confusion, and some technical issues, such as bugs in the final level, detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, the moral emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, resonating with players despite the story's abstract presentation.
“The story is told through the achievements that you can unlock by collecting symbols found in the levels.”
“I appreciated that the levels were not solely focused on being artsy, but attempted to tell a story.”
“The level design is magnificent, and the game does very well to convey a kind of story without a single word in the game, aside from achievement titles.”
“However, given how cryptic everything was, it felt more like a beautiful sequence of events rather than a cohesive story.”
“Imagine you took vvvvvv, replaced the retro graphics with a more modern monochrome palette, removed the story, and injected it with LSD.”
“The game uses no words, which always makes menus and settings more confusing, but it still features achievements with phrases to attempt a story.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Ovivo is described as surreal, relaxing, and beautifully minimalist, utilizing only two colors and simple mechanics to create an immersive experience. The fluid movement and atmospheric music enhance the game's tranquil vibe, making it reminiscent of mobile games in the genre. Despite its simplicity, the game successfully evokes a captivating and abstract environment that draws players in.
“Ovivo is a really atmospheric surrealist-of-sorts platformer.”
“Unbelievable what can be done with just two colors, three action keys, and atmospheric music.”
“Movement through the world is fluid and there is a nice straightforward game puzzle mechanic which can provide some challenge in later levels but does not interfere much with the relaxing atmosphere.”
“Relaxing and beautiful, reminiscent of some mobile games from this category, the atmosphere feels like prune.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players fully.”
“While the visuals are appealing, the overall atmosphere fails to create a sense of immersion or excitement.”
- stability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game exhibits several glitches and bugs that can lead to frustrating moments, particularly towards the end, but none are severe enough to be game-breaking. While some players have experienced the need to restart due to unexpected behavior, overall stability is manageable, and it runs well on Linux.
“Runs great on Linux, many thanks for that.”
“Do be warned that it's pretty buggy -- I've had to restart a few times because sometimes things just don't go the way the game expects it to and it freaks out.”
“It overstays its welcome just a bit, and the mechanics are just buggy/fiddly enough to be frustrating.”
“There were some irritating glitches at the end, but nothing that made me give up.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find joy in the mechanics that encourage repeated play, others criticize it for being too short, typically completing it in just 3-4 hours. Overall, opinions vary, with some appreciating the experience despite its brevity, while others feel it lacks depth for multiple playthroughs.
“I can see it having endless replay value for me personally, even if it ends up being very short, because it's just such a delight once you get your ball really moving and you are bouncing back and forth seamlessly between black and white pieces.”
“The only thing that I didn't like is that it is not very replayable, because you will complete it in 3-4 hours if you play without making errors, but I'm fine with this for the price I paid.”
“Given this uninteresting mechanic, the game has no replay value in my eyes.”
“This means, yes, that you can't really get 'lost' in a level, but it also means low replayability.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some users reporting smooth performance on high-end systems while others experience significant lag and frame rate drops on mid-range setups. Overall, the optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual hardware configurations.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find certain grinding mechanics to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the introduction of flipped controls and timed sections, which detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Some of the mechanics they introduce are more annoying and tedious than fun, such as flipping the horizontal controls and having some sections be timed.”
